Tag Archives: Trisomy 13

Patau Syndrome

Patau syndrome is the least common and most severe of the viable autosomal trisomies. It is a genetic disorder in which a person has three copies of genetic material from chromosome 13, instead of the usual two copies.

Trisomy 13 occurs in about 1 out of every 10,000 newborns. Most cases are not inherited. Instead, the events that lead to Trisomy 13 occur in either the sperm or the egg that forms the fetus.

A significant number of cases that are trisomic for chromosome 13 end in spontaneous abortion, foetal demise, or stillbirth. More than 80% of children with trisomy 13 die in the first month. Only one in 20 children survive longer than 6 months.

Symptoms

Extra fingers or toes (polydactyly). Clenched hands with outer fingers on top of the inner fingers.

Deformed feet, known as rocker-bottom feet

Severe mental deficiency. Small head, failure of the brain to divide into halves during gestation.

Medical Topics

Women who actually follow all of the standard health advice - eat sensibly, don't smoke, get some exercise, keep the weight down, have an occasional drink ,can reduce their chance of heart disease an astonishing 82 percent, according to a study from the landmark Nurses' Health Study, conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health.

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